If the location is not very attractive and im traveling for an event, there better be two milongas per day. Ideal scenario would be waking up just to get to the hotel breakfast, then some lazy or social activities in the afternoon. Catching the last two hours of the afternoon milonga. Dinner. Nap, shower, lazy time. Milonga, afterparty. Repeat, repeat.
Tango Festivals/holidays/weekends we're interested in or have been to
- Thread starter JonD
- Start date
Did one a few years ago. The format depends on the organisers. We also had sightseeing, trips, wine-tasting, time off, as well as 2 classes most days (50-60% of days) and a milonga. Smallish group.
itwillhappen
Forum Master
The critical point for me are the milongas. Dancing with the same 10 "intermediate" couples in a back room every night doesn't make me happy anymore. Therefore, I would either look for integration into the local tango scene or at least two teacher couples.
opendoor
Forum Master
Usually you stay at a hotel or lodge. There are group lessons every day in the late afternoon and a milonga at night. Some vacations have a fest that locals may attend. The rest of the time is free for own activities, or privates.
For a festival where I don’t partake in workshops I’d need 3 afternoon practicas and two long milongas. I tend to get overlooked at milongas where I am not known so the afternoons are critical for partner connections. For that I’d fly to an interesting city, stay in a nice hotel and sightsee during the day. The city itself would be the main draw.
For a sunny festival in some kind of resort/beach. I’d make it a lazy holiday and it would need to offer 4-5 days of dancing opportunities.
For a <250km drive I’d need a long formal milonga 5hrs or so, a personal connection to the organisers and either a performance from interesting (to me) teachers or a live music from a real tango orchestra.
I would not drive for more than an hour to a regular milonga without a personal connection to the organisers.
Of course my personal circumstances play into this as my partner is not a tango dancer and I would have to do all the driving myself.
For a sunny festival in some kind of resort/beach. I’d make it a lazy holiday and it would need to offer 4-5 days of dancing opportunities.
For a <250km drive I’d need a long formal milonga 5hrs or so, a personal connection to the organisers and either a performance from interesting (to me) teachers or a live music from a real tango orchestra.
I would not drive for more than an hour to a regular milonga without a personal connection to the organisers.
Of course my personal circumstances play into this as my partner is not a tango dancer and I would have to do all the driving myself.
TTanguero
Forum Master
Yeah, I'll go to a lot more effort for this! It was one of my favourite things about BsAs, and the highlight of a month-long trip was dancing to Romantica Milonguera playing live at Salon Canning.
I happen to have the particular weekend free at the end of my traveling. My option is to return home (5000 miles) or extend the trip for the weekend and take advantage of the tango events happening that weekend.
That is my usual modus operandi and I will be going to normal milongas during my travels.
I usually fit in Tango between and during my other travels. If I had to take vacation I would probably go to BsAs, which I never been to. London and BsAs are probably the only two major cities I have not danced in yet. Many tango tours as well as local dancers go there very often.
TTanguero
Forum Master
I love my home city of London, but there's no competition where tango is concerned! BsAs every time.
a. Teachers and workshops are not the main draw. It is neither a primary nor secondary motivation for me. If there happens to be one and if I find the topic interesting may be I will try it out. I rarely have time to arrange and take privates when traveling. I personally feel one off group lessons with a good instructor isn’t too useful compared to a series of them. As far as privates are concern if I haven’t seen someone teach and without knowing their teaching style, I am not going to sign up.
b. I prefer to do sightseeing on my own schedule. I like having that flexibility.
c. I prefer larger milongas if I am in some place only for tango. I don’t dance every tanda. Therefore more number of dancers and more milonga time, will allow me to dance with a number of different people.
d. I feel performances eat up social dancing time
They are not an attraction for me.
e. I do like dancing to live music. My experiences have been only positive.
d. I don’t know any organizers personally or have any significant connections in the Tango community. So that point is moot.
b. I prefer to do sightseeing on my own schedule. I like having that flexibility.
c. I prefer larger milongas if I am in some place only for tango. I don’t dance every tanda. Therefore more number of dancers and more milonga time, will allow me to dance with a number of different people.
d. I feel performances eat up social dancing time
They are not an attraction for me.e. I do like dancing to live music. My experiences have been only positive.
d. I don’t know any organizers personally or have any significant connections in the Tango community. So that point is moot.
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Just on the performance aspect: it’s a draw for me if they are interesting performers. I always do a quick YouTube search. And it breaks up the crowd so I have a chance to make eye contact with different dancers.
Poor performers, uninspiring choreography, excessive length or not spreading performances (where there is more than one couple) through the evening are boring. I’m there to dance.
Poor performers, uninspiring choreography, excessive length or not spreading performances (where there is more than one couple) through the evening are boring. I’m there to dance.
I understand that those yt videos need to be filmed at some point on some event, but im not a big fan. If they are cold and technical while showing off, id prefer not to watch it. I respect the skill, but it doesnt add anything to my experience. Nice chemistry while they have fun performing is another matter.
opendoor
Forum Master
So you prefer rather to sit on the floor at the edge of the hall and look at the stars live from below?
Not me! I’m short so I can be in the first standing row. Many people will be able to see over me and I will have a nice view without ruining my careful disguise of elegance.
itwillhappen
Forum Master
Another event that you might not have on your list, Copenhagen:
Registration and payment – La Colmena
www.anem.dk
But who knows whether they need experienced leaders or not ... without asking the organizer?
(I've just registered for an encuentro two weeks later that way.)